Zipline Injuries

Ziplines are fun, no question about it, but they are also inherently dangerous. Without proper precautions and safety equipment, a zipline can be the cause of serious injuries. Our San Diego zipline injury lawyers can help victims seek recourse when this happens.

According to a recent study reported in NBC News, ziplines are becoming more popular in California and throughout the country. In 2001 there were only a dozen commercial zipline operators in the United States, but today there are over 15,000. As one would expect, with more ziplining come more zipline accidents, and thus more injuries. The study revealed that zipline injuries rose by about 50% from 2009 to 2012, and if you Googled “zipline injury” today you would find several recent stories.

Who is most likely to get hurt in one of these incidents? While anyone can suffer serious or life-threatening injuries in a zipline accident, children under the age of 10 account for about 45% of all injuries, and those injuries often are serious ones, involving head injuries or broken bones.

What are some of the most common injuries affecting those injured in zipline accidents? The zipline accident study, which appeared in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, notes that most zipline injuries happen when a person falls or crashes into an object while riding the zipline. Since zipline structures send riders at very high speeds, collisions with tree or other objects, as well as falls from heights, can be devastating. A zipline injury attorney can help San Diego residents evaluate the scope of their harm. Some of the most common injuries include:

• Fractures;
• Bruises;
• Sprains;
• Strains; and
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including concussions.

Careening down a zipline, whether at a commercial outfit or in a neighbor’s yard, can be very dangerous. As the study notes, some children have been known to suffer cracked skulls and brain bleeding after falling.

While ziplining is a relatively new recreational activity, commercial zipline operators are required to abide by regulations, though our San Diego zipline injury attorneys know that those regulations are relatively thin at the present time. A report in The Orange County Register noted that ziplines have become a “fast-growing adventure activity in Southern California,” and that these ziplines are located in many different types of terrain, including “forests, mountains, and canyons.”

Paramount to a save zipline experience is safety equipment, and save use of that equipment. Rider should be safely harnessed, and have a fail-safe connection to the zipline, they should also be in helmets. There should also be a safe end to the ride, whether it culminates on the ground or some sort of landing platform. Most zipline injuries occur at the end of the ride as the rider is coming to a stop.

How long do you have to file a zipline injury lawsuit? Generally speaking, California law has a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, including claims for injuries cause by ziplining. You should not wait to discuss your case with a zipline injury lawyer in San Diego, however. The sooner you reach out to an experienced advocate, the faster the evidence can be gathered, and the faster you may be eligible to receive financial compensation for your damages.

Walton Law Firm is currently evaluating zipline injury cases, and accepts cases throughout the Southern California region, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Imperial County. If you were injured in a zipline accident, contact the Walton Law Firm today about your case for free of charge.